The effect of feeding maize and lucerne silages on blood composition in dairy cows

Abstract

SUMMARYMaize or lucerne silages were fed to two groups of cows in a large dairy herd. Metabolic profile tests carried out during the trial showed that abnormal blood chemistry such as might lead to production disease did not occur in either group.The results of feed analysis and digestibility trials showed that the two silages provided equal quantities of digestible energy but that the lucerne silage provided more digestible protein than the maize silage. Blood glucose concentrations were similar in both groups of cows but serum urea and albumin concentrations were significantly higher in the cows fed lucerne silage than in those fed maize silage. There was also evidence that lucerne silage provided slightly less available phosphorus but more calcium than the maize silage.It is concluded that maize silage, as used in these experiments, showed no tendency to lead to production disease, and furthermore the metabolic profile test provided additional information to feed analysis in making this assessment.